A speeding motorist who killed a cyclist as she wheeled her bike across a pedestrian crossing has escaped punishment - because there was no 'official' road sign saying he was in a 30mph limit.

Michael Campbell, 40, had been accelerating at up to 49mph in the 30mph zone when he mowed down businesswoman Jaye Bloomfield, 44, in Manchester city centre.

He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Campbell was not charged after it emerged that instead of a standard 30mph sign, contractors had left a red 'unofficial' speed limit sign on the road - which he had not seen.

Michael Campbell, who killed a cyclist as she wheeled her bike across a pedestrian crossing has escaped punishment, because there was no 'official' road sign saying he was in a 30mph limit

According to prosecution teams, Campbell would have been unaware he had to legally slow down, and so charges could not be brought.

Had he been charged and convicted, he could have faced up to 14 years in jail.

Ms Bloomfield’s family have revealed they are suing Campbell following an inquest into her death.

The driver had been accelerating at up to 49mph in the 30mph zone when his car mowed down businesswoman Jaye Bloomfield, 44

Ms Bloomfield, from Whalley Range, Manchester was a planning technician but had recently completed a college course and she was in the process of setting up her web design business.

Ms Bloomfield had tired the knot with her partner of eight years Gemma Godden, 37, in a civil ceremony in August 2012 and the couple were making plans to celebrated their 'paper' anniversary.

Ms Godden said: 'Jaye would often cycle to work but if it was a longer distance we would drive. She was a keen cyclist and always cycled with a helmet.'

The tragedy occurred on August 3 last year when Jaye was cycling on the slip road heading from Princess Road in Manchester onto the Mancunian Way.

Motorist Matthew Collier said: 'I stopped at a pelican crossing and a number of pedestrians went across. I saw Jaye and from my recollection she was pushing her bike with her feet across it, straddling the bike.

'Just before the lights changed I saw a car on the right coming around the corner.

'I commented to my wife that the car was going quite fast. Shortly after we heard a loud bang and when we looked over we saw some debris on the road and I thought maybe someone had been hit.'

His wife Sharon added: 'I saw Jaye come across. I remembered her because she had electric blue shorts that you could see under her clothes. We saw a silver and black car come around at an exceedingly high speed.

'At the time we were not sure if it was the silver or black car that hit and we didn’t know it was Jaye. She had gone over at a normal walking pace.'

Another witness Noor Abu spoke to Campbell moments after the incident and said: 'He was in a shock. I told him to take it easy.

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'He had his head in his hands and was sat on the floor. He was kind of mumbling although I could not make anything out from what he was saying.'

Campbell, who had been driving a Seat TDI,told the inquest: 'At the roundabout I looked right and there was nothing coming so I merged to the left.

'I could see the pedal cyclist under the bridge going the same direction as me. It was just a glance. The traffic lights were green so I accelerated.

Scene: The tragedy occurred on August 3 last year when Jaye was cycling on the slip road heading from Princess Road in Manchester onto the Mancunian Way (pictured)

'I heard something hit the car and thought it had come from above. I immediately stopped in the middle of the road and looked to my left and saw someone in the road. I ran to the person, confused.

'I did not notice the red sign. It was saying 30mph on the roundabout but on the way to the motorway I thought it was 50. I don’t think that sign was very visible.'

Ms Bloomfield suffered fatal head and chest injuries and died at the scene.

Senior investigating officer Ian Beaumont told the Manchester inquest: 'We understand the Seat Leon TDI to have been travelling at around 41-49mph which is in excess of the 30mph speed limit.

'But I understand that the driver did not see Jaye.

Damage: Campbell was not charged after it emerged that instead of a standard 30mph sign, contractors had left a red 'unofficial' speed limit sign on the road - which he had not seen

Error: The inquest was told the official 30mph sign was due to be erected at this location. The mangled railings can be seen in this photo where the crash happened

'The CPS had a consultation and as a result of that they determined no further action against Mr Campbell would be taken in response to the matter. They deemed there was no realistic prospect of conviction in this case.”

'There should be a sign indicating the speed limit but this was incorrectly placed by contractors. There was no specific sign to indicate the speed limit was 30mph.

'The pedestrian crossing is placed in the middle of the motorway essentially. It isn’t meant for cyclist but for the movement of pedestrians.'

The inquest was told the official 30mph sign was due to be erected.

Tributes left at the scene to the 'passionate cyclist'. Ms Bloomfield had married her partner of eight years Gemma Godden, 37, in a civil ceremony in August 2012 and the couple were making plans to celebrated their 'paper' anniversary

Recording a narrative verdict Manchester Assistant coroner Fiona Borrill said: 'I shall be writing a letter to Manchester City Council to find out when the signs will be in place and what progress has been made in respect to this improvement. I am looking to find a time scale.'

After the case in a statement, Ms Godden said: 'I have lost the partner I loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I miss her every day as do her family and friends.

'We both loved cycling but this terrible accident once again highlights the dangers cyclists face from motorists driving at speed.

'I urge drivers to respect the speed limit. If the driver who hit Jaye had been driving at 30mph or below as he should have been, he would almost certainly have seen her and been able to stop.

'I want police to clamp down on speeding drivers and I want drivers to realise that cyclists are all someone’s loved one. Please look out for cyclists and give them space on the roads.'

The family solicitor Carol Jackson from Manchester law firm Pannone said, 'We are advising Gemma as to the possibility of a civil action against the driver of the car.'